Vallarta Moments

Carnival, Puerto Vallarta - 2012

2012-02-24T23:27:00.000-08:00

Fat Tuesday, on Saturday....family fun, tourist fun, local fun, and....in the home stretch....R-rated...no, not the frog!

Vallarta Rain

2012-02-12T21:16:00.000-08:00

I have been in PV almost 4 months now, and finally felt some rain...I have to admit I missed it...just a little, but it does clean out the air, streets, and has a fresher smell. Naturally, after some stormy weather, the skies began to clear...this is what we saw...how beautiful is this? Vallarta is truly a wonderful place. This was at least a "10 kiss" sunset...maybe more...too busy enjoying to count.....NICE...VERY NICE!

Shopping Spree

2012-02-12T21:01:00.000-08:00

Tonala is famous for it's bargain shopping, and it's just outside Mexico's 2nd largest city of Guadalajara. It's about a 5 hour drive from Vallarta if you take the toll roads (cuotas). Dianne and I & Howard drove over for a 3 day visit. The goal was to find hidden treasures AND items to decorate our newly remodeled "Mexico Beach Cabin". We "scored"...as in....we stayed within our budget, found some hidden treasures, and interesting stuff for the condo. It was a fair amount of walking, getting lost, trying to communicate with a language barrier, bargaining with shop owners/dealers and MOST IMPORTANTLY, discussing with Dianne what works for us in the priority scheme of things....a tender & touchy process. What treasures???? How about a Singer sewing machine wrought iron base with a mesquite wood top....a place to put the new sewing machine, and when not in use, a drop back in time for that antique look and grandbaby pictures on display. How about a "ceramic" church with people figurines and 2 steeples...for less than a dinner for one in town! Bargains are obviously in the eyes of the beholder and the wallet flipper. The other nice bonus is the shop will deliver your items to the hotel, and the hotel will securely store them until you load them into your garage secured vehicle and depart. What more could a consumer want? How about a cash discount....that too! ...and with the peso....another discount compared to the USD. Lastly, it's a blast...everyone has fun. At the end of the day, we arrived back to the hotel, sore feet, nice memories, and Howard happy to see us...and vice versa. We capped the evening off with a nice dinner out in the neighborhood and a glass or more of tasty Argentinian red wine (yep-that's the bargain wine here). Now we are back in PV with the final phase of our master remodel plan....decorate!!! New photos will follow on our website very soon..... Thank you Tonala! John & Dianne

Our "favorite" Mexican waiter

2012-01-29T15:31:00.000-08:00

On the beach lies a warm, friendly restaurant/bar named, Langostinos. They are right on the beach, and host some fun-loving parties with many expatriots like us. This guy, "Nacho", whose real name is Ignacio, has become our favorite waiter in PV. I've posted his photo (with his permission), so if you are visiting this place, please mention us, JACK & DIANNE...he knows me as John, but my better half likes Jack better...oh well, whatever...call me anything, but don't call me late for "happy hour"! Please tip Nacho more than normal, as he is the best, as you'll find out for yourself. He always brings a bowl of water for Howard. Thanks Nacho!!!!!

SURF's UP!

2012-01-29T15:22:00.000-08:00

Dianne and I recently re-visited the Northern shores of PV. One of the sleepy, but fascinating little villages is Sayulita. It is well known by the locals and many tourists worldwide. It is popular as a surf mecca. It also has many shops, museums and cultural artifacts. It's a "shoppers paradise", if you have some bucks to spare. We discovered a small shop with some very alive art. It's called Galeria Agua Tierra, and it's owned and operated by one of our local Portland artists, Cori Jacobs. Although we weren't able to meet her in person, her shop operator and MOM, was quite the character and shared with us some of the finer points of excelling in the art world. Of course we couldn't afford some of the beautiful abstarct art pieces on the shop walls, we did spring for a couple of prints, once larger on a canvass. The day seemed to fly by as we saw the 60's and early 70's revisited. Yes, "tie-dies" are alive and well all over this surfing village. Shops everywhere here reminded us of our Woodstock days. So did the village hippies who were around every corner, it seemed. The bottom line is everywhere we went, folks were having fun and laughing....very "mellow". Nearby, the hillsides and some gated communities displayed some gorgeous villas. Real Estate has been booming here for quite some time, and values are NOT going down. After a late lunch on the beach and a soothing mojito, we made the trek south to our not so fancy beach cabin and hugged Howard, who really missed us. You can visit the website at: http://sayulita.com for more info. & pics. Our next trip in a few weeks, and soon to be a blog is a journey to Tonala, near Guadalajara (shopper's paradise).

Good, Bad, Ugly.....prices

2012-01-12T15:57:00.000-08:00

This is a new "sub-category" for this blog. Every so often I think I might post something called, Good, Bad, Ugly with a topic of interest to me. This time it's, PRICES in the Vallarta area. Examples: in USD

GOOD....1 - medium whole watermelon.....75c
BAD......1 small (about a quart) carton of ice cream...cookies & cream.....3.50
UGLY....1 any sized celery salt.....not available here...bummer for my bloody mary's

GOOD...1 kilo (2.2 lbs.) of fresh, local jumbo shrimp.....8.00
BAD......1 small can of chicken broth (low sodium)....3.00
UGLY.....lean ground beef - 1 lb.....4.00

GOOD....2 bags of fresh fruit (ap.30 items)....6.00
BAD......1 lb.bacon (not even thick).....4.50
UGLY.....caffeine free pepsi/or any caffeine free soda...not existent!

GOOD.....fresh medium scallops.....1/2 kilo....3.75
BAD........peanut butter...12 oz. name brand....4.50
UGLY......low sodium products....rare!

GOOD.....4 fresh-New York steaks...custom thick cut at market....1 kilo....8.00/3.50 lb.
BAD........CEREAL-18OZ. HONEY BUNCHES OF OATS (my fave)......4.75
UGLY......Generics....some, not many...need good spanish skills...oops!

GOOD.....fresh avocados - large - 8 in a bag.....75c
BAD........popcorn bags in a box - 8 small bags.....4.00
UGLY......USA packaged food imports.....price "doubles" or more!

So, there are many, but the moral I think here is "eat fresh" and forget the good 'ol stuff back home...until I get back home...or eat more healthy there too! However, we do have Walmart, even though prices are not always what we expect here...BUT....I can go there and shop, get many free samples of tequila, rum and more in the store, get my car washed in the parking lot while I shop, learn more spanish (sort of), meet new gringos (in the liquor section of course), and still manage to save some bucks! NOT BAD, huh?

Full Moon setting over Banderas Bay 1/08/12

2012-01-12T13:20:00.000-08:00

Getting Around Vallarta

2012-01-02T10:16:00.000-08:00

You probably could have guessed this subject would come up on this blog...sooner or later. This is informational, but I will also say I am getting it off my chest! John

There are many ways to get around this town..bus taxi, walk or drive. We have used all of these. The 1st choice for Dianne and I is to walk. You have to be diligent though. We have to mostly walk with our heads down...why? Several reasons...yes, the cobblestone streets are refreshing and very cultural here, but they do present challenges. I see gringos here with crutches, a foot boot etc. They explain they took a tumble. The streets and sidewalks are unpredictable because there is no continuity. There might be a sidewalk for a little bit, only to then have to walk in a ditch, or on the road. There are spots which are dirt, cement, stone or a combination of something. If you don't look at where you are stepping, you more than likely will fall or trip, and then fall. The sidewalks are level, then go up, then go back down. A walker has to watch every step here. I must say that the cobblestones do provide leg/calf muscle enhancements.

As for driving, we drive when we need to shop for goods, or there is a timetable where the car makes sense. This is a "loaded" subject. Driving in this town is very nerve-racking! I keep thinking I've seen it all until another new thing happens. Drivers here make the rules of the road, even though there are hundreds of traffic police everywhere. I'm not sure what they do other than blowing the whistle for cars to stop or go. Drivers make lots of illegal turns. here, if you want to make a left turn, you must exit off the main road to the right, then make a left turn when the green arrow says you can turn. The traffic lights are inconsistent. Street signs are on the buildings or don't exist. Sometimes the lights are on the right, and sometimes on the left. Sometimes they don't work, and sometimes drivers ignore them and run the red light. They also leave the intersection before the light turns green. You can be driving down the street and it's a 2 way, then without warning, it becomes a 1 way street...no signs. Then there are motorcycles/scooters etc. They like to "beat the traffic" by driving in the middle of cars, so you never know what's behind you or coming alongside you. Then there are many bus drivers who must get a commission or something, 'cause they are always in a hurry, and will block you out in a flash if you are on their road. Then there are the drivers who park in the road...that's right. They just stop in a lane, get out, and go wherever they are going. So you can be driving, and suddenly discover you need to switch lanes, but can't...so you're stuck. (parking here is a problem). Also people walk out in the intersection when the cars are on the move...some cars stop, some don't. I could go on, but you get the picture. Dianne has so far decided not to drive here. It does make you appreciate driving in the Pacific Northwest.

As for the taxis and buses, they are mostly a good and affordable source of transportation. The buses only cost about 55-60 cents for getting around town. The taxis are only 3-4 USD to go several miles from home to town etc. The taxi drivers are very courteous, reliable and helpful.

So, if you are visiting here for a short time, then busses and taxis work very well. For a longer stay, a car helps because many of the stores etc. are not always close to where you are staying. Of course, there is OXXO (like a 7-11)...everywhere here...you can get the smaller items you may need right away. Dianne and I have chosen to walk most everywhere, and we discover new places, neighborhoods, especially when we get lost...it's fun! Ok, that's the transportation report. All in all, not too bad...if you don't drive!!!!

Christmas Eve @ Que Pasa

2012-01-02T09:39:00.001-08:00

Happy 2012 from Vallarta!

2012-01-01T17:18:00.000-08:00

Mexican Movies

2011-12-29T07:50:00.000-08:00

Dianne and I attended our 1st movie ever in Vallarta yesterday. Well, it was very nice! We saw Tom Cruise in "Misiones Imposible" The theatre was nicely decorated. The sound and screen were excellent. The sound was a bit loud, as is most everything here. Even I could hear it! The seats were comfortable and the nicely padded chairs were rockers. We were the 1st ones there at 5 minutes before the movie came on, and the only ones for awhile. Ultimately, about a DOZEN FOLKS sat in for the show. The time was mid-afternoon, so that's probably why, although, it is the holiday season, and many folks are enjoying time off from work here.
The show began with some local ads in spanish of course, then some previews in english with spanish subtitles...that's how all the"new" movies are here, if made by the USA folks. Interestingly, parts of the Mission Impossible movie takes place in Russia. So when the actors speak in their native tongue, the subtitles are still in spanish-not english...so we weren't able to determine what they were saying, except for body language. I've got to bone up on my spanish skills.
Now for the best part......
The price was 3 USD each for the tickets, and a huge bucket of that smells good-but not good for ya popcorn and 2 large frescos with a plastic carrying bin for our seats....another 9 USD, for a grand total of 15 USD...not bad for a new movie and a not-so-healthy-snack.
Dianne thinks we should do more of these "fun" afternoon encounters...so I think we shall. It seems to fit our budget and relaxed lifestyle. Hasta Luego Amigos.

remodel done for now

2011-12-29T07:28:00.000-08:00

Now we get to decorate the place...As always, it will take some time, but by the time Spring rolls around...it should take on it's new personality...our own "Mexican Beach Cabin" as we call it.

Que Pasa?

2011-12-23T13:48:00.000-08:00

What's happening in Ingles.....speaking of which, Que Pasa is also a local pub of sorts where many of us gringos hang out from time to time....NFL is alive and well here too. However, tomorrow is a "special day" here...in addition to the Raiders game, the place sponsors an annual toys for the kids on Christmas eve. This will be our 1st participation of course. We are told the kids in Vallarta stay up all night waiting for Santa to arrive (poor parents)...not sure how Santa actually sneaks in. Anyway, Mike and the Que Pasa team work their magic for the local barrios' kids. This happens in the evening, so perhaps the local parents get to sneak a few things in the house prior to the kids getting back to their casas. The kids line up outside this establishment waiting for the "nod" to come in and visit Santa. The line last year was all the way around the block...gee! We hope to have photos for you soon following. There are many other local events around town as well. We have learned PV expats really give back to this community in various awesome ways. Down the road, I plan to explore some of these special causes and folks on this blog.

Until then, John, Dianne and Howard wish all of you (perhaps 3 or so readers)...don't know-cause you don't reply...Happy Holidays to you and your families...hoping your lives are well. We feel blessed to have such great family and friends...and now PV. WOW!

Feliz Navidad

2011-12-23T13:33:00.000-08:00

What's life like here for us?

2011-12-19T19:42:00.000-08:00

Vallarta is a busy place. Most folks are working, so it seems. Yes, we know some jobs ended up in Mexico, SAD... but beyond that... It's not just due to the holidays, but there's a "hustle-bustle" type atmosphere. There is a good deal of construction such as buildings...all kinds. Some of the main roads are under construction, including the highway by our place which runs South from the city. Next month the highway from PV to Guadalajara will be vastly improved and substantially reduce the driving time each way. The City has recently completed the new "Malecon" look this past season. this is the walk-way along the beach which goes several miles. It's a relaxing stroll with so much cultural and local influence. Day or night, it's wonderful and enjoyed by many. Tourism here is mainly older folks...not the spring-breakers! The substantial Vallarta Gay community is also very vibrant and active here.

Safety here is as excellent as it gets. There's the traffic cops, the tourista cops, the municipal cops, the state cops, and the federales! They are everywhere...cars, trucks, on foot, on the beach, bicycles, horseback, and aircraft...maybe more. If you don't feel safe here, it might be 'cause you have something to hide....Vallarta is NOT on the US State Department's travel advisory. It is due to many reasons, but it doesn't matter...safer is safer!

Some have asked about cost of living for retirees or others wishing to live here for an extended period. I can divide the costs better by category. Services are very reasonable. Electric is about 25 USD per month, cable is 35. for about 90 channels, many in Ingles, Landline phone with high speed internet is about 50. Cell phone, pay as you go is about 10. per month unless you have lots of local contacts, then more. Other creature comforts might include massage 20USD for 70 minutes, mani-pedi/15USD combined, basic haircut 3.00-5.00, gym use-23.00USD per month if you don't choose fancy. Cost of food eating out and in supermarkets are the same or more than home. It depends on your taste, diet, and routine. Some items here are not available in local stores...certain spices, vitamins, hygiene items etc. All in all, not bad though. PV has Walmart, Costco, Home Depot and many other major chains. Even though the businesses are familiar to us by name, the way they do business can be very different. I'll discuss this another time. I am also trying to learn the weights and measures of the metric system. Gas, by the way is under 3.USD per gallon when you convert the pesos and the liters. It's weird to figure, but I finally figured out the right math I think. By the way, the "gas girls" actually check your oil and water, clean the windshields, and check the tire pressure....wow! That's a throwback for me. Of course, they're working for a "propina" (tip).

Lastly for now, I want to emphasize how FRIENDLY everyone here is. The locals treat us as family, the patrons want your business-and go the extra mile to earn it, the tourists, expats from USA and Canada are the easiest people to get to know. Everyone here is happy because they WANT to be here. What's there not to like.

In another post I'll discuss medical, dental and other issues you may be curious about. The weather today 78f, blue sky, and the 10 day forecast....MISMO (same). Hasta Luego amigos! John

How is it here for an expatriot?

2011-12-19T18:57:00.000-08:00

A tree of candles in a nice restaurant on the beach....Go the next post to read about what's happening in every day life here.

What bald spot?

2011-12-19T18:51:00.000-08:00

Pinata store...did I spell that right?

2011-12-18T08:04:00.000-08:00

More quirky moments in PV

2011-12-14T15:25:00.000-08:00

A/C technicians, as they're called, install things like this...an "extractor" which supposedly helps the heat dissipate out of the area where the compressors are. What they don't do...is fix the hole outside of our condo after they make it...we now found out we need a "brick mason"...are you kidding me????

Quirky moments in Vallarta

2011-12-14T15:21:00.000-08:00

Paint stores sell paint brushes and rollers, but many do not sell roller pans...urgh!

Hacienda San Angel - Puerto Vallarta

2011-12-10T15:57:00.000-08:00

This is a beautiful place. Dianne and I attended an SPCA fundraiser here a few weeks ago. I invite you to visit the website www.haciendasanangel.com View the photos and you will most likely share our opinion. The photo of the small chapel area is exactly where the catered dinner and amusing auction was held. I tossed aside my Catholic ways many years ago, but I admire the artistic revelry of it all. It does provide me with some contentment and serenity. You have to hand it to these folks who can, in the blink of an eye, make the dark church pews disappear and the white tablecloths magically appear.

As for the fundraiser itself, it was fun. We knew 1 person when we arrived (the one who sold us the tickets). When we departed, we had met a number of nice folks and lightend the wallet too. The new dog/cat shelter is being built and should open soon. There will be fewer dogs/cats roaming the streets, and life will be better for all we hope.

As for the Hacienda, it has a gorgeous view of the largest cathedral in the city and overlooks Banderas Bay. It was an interesting and enjoyable evening. I even dressed up...replaced my shorts with a nice pair of jeans...and a Tommy Bahamas shirt from the Goodwill. Dianne wore a nice evening dress, and some cool silver jewelry. Howard got to stay home, but I know he was happy that we were trying to help his brethren.

Happy Holidays from Isabel, John & Dianne

2011-12-10T11:56:00.000-08:00

More Casa Isabel

2011-12-10T11:51:00.000-08:00

Casa Isabel photo

2011-12-08T16:07:00.000-08:00

Casa Isabel

2011-12-08T16:05:00.000-08:00

One of the delights in Vallarta is the "happy hour" with a view. Casa Isabel is a wonderful hacienda with gorgeous views. We were recently given a private tour of their "honeymoon suite" They actually have 2. we will try to get pics for you, but they are usually "booked" as you might imagine. Why a tour for us? We are celebrating our 1st anniversary in january, so why not. The suites are all open air with a panoramic view, even from the "banos". There are all the amenities, room service, a full bar, restaurant, infinity pools, jacuzzi and great service. You just have to know the right folks...Isabel, the owner of course, and "Fast Eddie" as he calls himself....and yes, some pesos...lots of them. We are negotiating for a 2 for 1 special of the suite..on a short notice basis in January...might happen-might not, we'll see. this place is only 6-7 minutes from our condo, but it feels like heaven when are there. The picture posted after this post is from a recent dinner we had just at sunset. You can see the mood. Next time we'll try to get a pic of us with Isabel. She is quite the charismatic owner as you'll see. Adios! John...& Dianne

local farmers market

2011-12-07T07:12:00.000-08:00

Food, Folks, Fun

2011-12-06T09:29:00.000-08:00

Vallarta is "blessed" with many great international quality restaurants. There are, we hear, almost 1,000 of them here. Now some of them come and go, but the really good ones create a real "buzz" with the locals. There is something for everyone's pallet, comfort level, and budget. We are still looking for a good Asian place, as they are a little harder to find. There doesn't seem to be a large population of Asians or Blacks in this place. there's a lot of "South of the Border" influence as you can imagine, and there's a fair mount of European and UK representation. In any event, we will discuss a few of our favorites as we explore in the near future. Many of the local shop and restaurant owners are from the US/Canada and are becoming our friends already...yes, really. It doesn't mean freebies, but it's nice that they welcome as with remembering our names, and our seating and other preferences. Wow, now that's pretty special. Oh, by the way, Howard is welcome in many of the places as he goes with us many times for our walks.

The folks who live here want to be helpful in many ways. They offer help with anything you may ask from them. the other day, Dianne and I were trying to figure out "how to" get our cell phone messages, as it's all in espanol. The voice prompts begin with a 20-30 second spanish ditty, then asks you to select a number of what you want to do. After many frustrating attempts to figure out what they are asking, I started choosing numbers. I never did get any of my messages, or figure out who called me...could be one of about 6-7 people...as I don't have very many contacts in my phone directory here yet. Dianne and I got the stupid things just so we could communicate with each other in case of emergency...yeah right! A great guy we met, Sergio, said to us,"you know you can get the cell phone to switch over to English". I said what???? After 1 month of frustration, there was a glimmer of hope. Wow, I said. We went to the Telcel office the next day, and just like that they set it up for us. Oh, what a relief it is...I was actually able to change the ugly screensaver on my phone as well. So, the question is probably looming in the back of your mind....why didn't Telcel tell us we could do this when we got the phones???? Oh well...we are gringos!

Next blog will show some more pics and cover some of the many activities and things we can do here, besides stay nice and warm....and sunny.

What's a day like?

2011-12-06T09:10:00.001-08:00

New friends

2011-11-29T19:10:00.000-08:00

The last few weeks have seen a new wave of meeting new people...lots of folks...some local, some tourists, some local "want to be's". that was us a few months ago. As you can imagine, lots of questions by us when we meet the locals...who have lots of answers...we are the 'rookies". The picture posted, by the way, is from our Mexican beach cabin's "roof top"...not bad...wow, what a view! this will become our new sanctuary at home....shade in the aftrnoon, sun in the AM, great sunset and fireworks PM...did I mention fireworks are EVERY night 365 days a year...cool...from various beaches in PV over a time frame of 30 minutes or so...way cool. today..more dust, dirt as our remodel continues...so we meandered on foot with Howard to the malecon (boardwalk... pics to follow later). the malecon was just completely overhauled this off season in PV. What's the malecon? It is a gathering place along the beach which contours with the ocean's waves, local shops, hotels and vendors. There are benches, food carts, arts and crafts, local statue art, sand sculptures, historical markers, live world-class entertainment, cultural/religious interests, and lots more. The PV folks have tried to recapture the "spirit" of Puerto Vallarta that seems to have been lost with the recent bad news at home in the USA. The truth is...'cause I know you all are wanting to know....PV is SAFE as safe can be....don't panic with the US press...there are more police around here then there are in N. Portland during a gang incident unfolding...or just after...I have to really watch my driving...honest...doesn't take much to be noticed for anything around here...SAFE? who knows...are you really safe where you are? Nuf said! Tomorrow...what do we do most days?....and let's talk food and folks in that business....really cool people and the VIP's!!!!!! Buenas noches! John

view from our roof top

2011-11-29T18:35:00.001-08:00

My 1st EVER blog

2011-11-28T18:42:00.000-08:00

WOW (forwards and backwards), Awesome sauce, far out man, and much more...Puerto Vallarta (I'll refer to as PV or Vallarta) is everything I (John) hoped for and more. Dianne (mi esposa) and Howard (perro) are also in agreement with me. This blog site will share our experiences as we live the extended vacation life as snowbirds. OK, because it took a month or so to get this up and alive, I'll begin with the present and work backwards with new stuff mixed in as I catch up.

Dianne will add her stories and more as well. This is our blog to share with anyone who wishes to experience our life here in Mexico; this is our 1st season residing in Vallarta. We will post photos as we can, but hopefully this blog will provide you with a sense of our everyday lives here. There are many twists and turns as you will read.

So a quick description of our surroundings will help I think. We bought a condo last year near "old town", La Romantica zone in PV. We call it our Mexican Beach cabin, although it's not on the beach (about 7 minutes down hill and 15 back up). It's in an 8 story locked building off the main highway with an ocean view...so not bad. The down side is the vehicle noise and the dust/dirt it creates when the balcony doors are open and the A/C is off. (need breezes)

We love to walk, so town is about 15-20 minutes strolling along Santa Barbara street filled with cobblestones and lovely villas along the way to town. The ocean views are spectacular as you see the boats, whales spouting, pelicans hovering in formation a few feet above the water searching for a delicious seafood dinner....more about seafood later...

Along the way we see others doing the same, many are locals, some are gringos like us. Gringos like to run/walk up and down a set of stairs to the beach from the road. It's the equivalent of hiking up and down about 5 flights of stairs almost totally vertical. As one healthy looking gringa put it..."I can EAT AND DRINK MORE..it's great". I haven't tried those stairs yet...they look pretty intimidating, and we walk a lot anyway....great cardio here.

Today we had to leave the beach cabin early as our place is getting a facelift. We have been planning a remodel even before we left Washington. The Mexican family doing the work consists of 4-5 men who are all very good at electrical, plumbing, tile and more. In a few weeks our place should take on a totally new look, and provide us with a few more creature features like a double sink in the kitchen and a shower head which we can acrually stand under...the old one is too close to the shower wall, so we can't get toally wet when we want.

So we went to the beach and hung out for most of the day...Ok, pictures to follow...promise...we are still uploading, but have lots to share...

More really cool stuff tomorrow...stay tuned. John